Helicopter crashes in northwestern Alberta while fighting wildfire, killing pilot

A helicopter involved in firefighting operations has crashed in northwestern Alberta, killing a pilot. 

Todd Loewen, Alberta's forestry minister, offered condolences to the pilot's family, friends and colleagues on Thursday.

"Today’s tragic news is a reminder that the heroes who put their lives on the line to protect us are men and women like you and me. They have families, friends, hopes and dreams," he said in a written statement. 

'Courage and resilience:' Judge acquits two men convicted in 1973 killing in Winnipeg

A courtroom erupted in cheers and applause Tuesday after a Manitoba judge said the words two First Nations men have been waiting a half−century to hear.

"You are innocent. You deserve acquittals. I’m now happy to enter them," Chief Justice Glenn Joyal of the Court of King’s Bench told Brian Anderson and Allan Woodhouse. 

"Your stories are stories of courage and resilience."

Systemic and individual racial discrimination within the justice system played a part in the wrongful conviction of both men, added Joyal. 

B.C. ports shut down again as union rejects tentative deal, resumes strike action

British Columbia's ports are facing an uncertain future after the longshore workers union rejected a tentative mediated deal and resumed strike action that had been put to a temporary halt only last week.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada says in Tuesday's decision to go back to picket lines that "employers have not addressed the cost of living issues" faced by workers in the last few years.

Blockade dismantled at Winnipeg landfill days after judge grants temporary injunction

Police and municipal crews removed a blockade Tuesday at a Winnipeg landfill where protesters had barricaded a road for almost two weeks to demand a search for the remains of Indigenous women.

Workers with front-end loaders and other machinery removed wood planks and other material that had blocked the road to the Brady Road landfill. There were no arrests and the removal went smoothly.

"I interacted with the leader of the group and we gained an understanding of what was going to happen today," Insp. Gord Spado of the Winnipeg Police Service said.

42 vehicles impounded after traffic stop in Chamberlain

The Saskatchewan RCMP has 42 vehicles impounded for impaired driving during a three-day checkstop on Highway 11 in Chamberlain. 

The check stop took place from July 11 to 13 with about 4,500 vehicles being checked. 

Along with vehicles being impounded, there were 40 driver’s license suspensions for being impaired by cannabis, one suspension for being impaired by cocaine and one suspension for being impaired by alcohol. 

Manitoba bus crash claims 17th victim as woman dies in hospital

RCMP say a 17th victim died Sunday from injuries sustained in a bus crash west of Winnipeg — a 79-year-old woman who had been in hospital since the collision just over a month ago.

Seniors from Dauphin, Man., were on a minibus taking a day trip to the Sand Hills Casino, 190 kilometres south, when the fiery crash occurred on June 15.  

They were just minutes from the casino when, according to dashcam footage viewed by police, the bus drove into the path of a transport truck heading east on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Manitoba bus crash claims 17th victim as woman dies in hospital

RCMP say a 17th victim died Sunday from injuries sustained in a bus crash west of Winnipeg — a 79−year−old woman who had been in hospital since the collision just over a month ago.

Seniors from Dauphin, Man., were on a minibus taking a day trip to the Sand Hills Casino, 190 kilometres south, when the fiery crash occurred on June 15.  

They were just minutes from the casino when, according to dashcam footage viewed by police, the bus drove into the path of a transport truck heading east on the Trans−Canada Highway.

Foreign interference shows need for Canada to get serious on media literacy: advocate

As federal parties craft the scope of a possible inquiry into foreign interference, Canada's media-literacy charity argues governments and schools need to do a better job of preventing citizens from being manipulated by hostile states.

"We are going to need a media-literate populace," said Matthew Johnson, education director with MediaSmarts, a non-profit aimed at boosting critical thinking among Canadians.

"Whatever the source of disinformation, but certainly including foreign interference, digital media literacy really is both the first and last line of defence."

Court grants temporary injunction to end Winnipeg landfill blockade

A Manitoba judge has granted a temporary injunction to end a blockade at a Winnipeg landfill, where dozens of protesters have blocked the main road demanding a search of a different landfill north of the city for the remains of two slain Indigenous women. 

Justice Sheldon Lanchbery says demonstrators can continue to protest at the Brady Road landfill but they cannot block the road. 

Injunction sought against Winnipeg landfill blockade as Ottawa and Manitoba spar

A Manitoba judge urged the two sides in a landfill blockade to try to reach a compromise Thursday, as the federal and Manitoba governments sparred over a proposed search for the remains of Indigenous women.

The city of Winnipeg is asking for a court injunction to remove a blockade that was set up at the city−run Brady Road landfill last week, after Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson said the province would not support a search of the privately owned Prairie Green Landfill, which is north of the city.